Synthesis and biological evaluation of ruthenium complexes containing phenylseleny against Gram-positive bacterial infection by damage membrane integrity and avoid drug-resistance.

Compounds modified with selenium atom as potential antibacterial agents have been exploited to combat the nondrug-resistant bacterial infection. In this study, we designed and synthesized four ruthenium complexes retouching of selenium-ether. Fortunately, those four ruthenium complexes shown excellent antibacterial bioactive (MIC: 1.56-6.25 µg/mL) against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), and the most active complex Ru(II)-4 could kill S. aureus by targeting the membrane integrity and avoid the bacteria to evolve drug resistance. Moreover, Ru(II)-4 was found to significantly inhibit the formation of biofilms and biofilm eradicate capacity. In toxicity experiments, Ru(II)-4 exhibited poor hemolysis and low mammalian toxicity. To illustrate the antibacterial mechanism: we conducted scanning electron microscope (SEM), fluorescent staining, membrane rupture and DNA leakage assays. Those results demonstrated that Ru(II)-4 could destroy the integrity of bacterial cell membrane. Furthermore, both G. mellonella wax worms infection model and mouse skin infection model were established to evaluate the antibacterial activity of Ru(II)-4 in vivo, the results indicated that Ru(II)-4 was a potential candidate for combating S. aureus infections, and almost non-toxic to mouse tissue. Thus, all the results indicated that introducing selenium-atom into ruthenium compounds were a promising strategy for developing interesting antibacterial agents.

Influence of small-group experiential learning of integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine on the oral health knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors of elderly patients with diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed at the oral health problems of elderly patients with diabetes. A training course of integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine was constructed, helping patients improve their oral health quality of life. METHODS: A randomized controlled prospective experimental study was conducted. A total of 190 elderly patients were divided randomly into an observation group and a control group with 95 cases in each. The control group received regular health education, while the observation group was based on the control group to implement the integrated experiential learning of traditional Chinese and Western medicine in small groups. The oral health knowledge, attitude, behavior, and blood glucose control status along with the oral health quality of life of the two groups were compared before the intervention and at 3-month postintervention. RESULTS: Three months after the intervention, the fasting blood glucose control and the 2-h postprandial blood glucose/glycosylated hemoglobin levels in the observation group were significantly better than in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). The oral health quality of life in the observation group was significantly better than in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The small-group experiential learning model of integrated Chinese and Western medicine can promote the transformation of knowledge-beliefs-behaviors in elderly patients with diabetes, which is conducive to controlling blood sugar levels and improving the quality of oral health.

Influence of small-group experiential learning of integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine on the oral health knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors of elderly patients with diabetes

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: This study aimed at the oral health problems of elderly patients with diabetes. A training course of integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine was constructed, helping patients improve their oral health quality of life. METHODS: A randomized controlled prospective experimental study was conducted. A total of 190 elderly patients were divided randomly into an observation group and a control group with 95 cases in each. The control group received regular health education, while the observation group was based on the control group to implement the integrated experiential learning of traditional Chinese and Western medicine in small groups. The oral health knowledge, attitude, behavior, and blood glucose control status along with the oral health quality of life of the two groups were compared before the intervention and at 3-month postintervention. RESULTS: Three months after the intervention, the fasting blood glucose control and the 2-h postprandial blood glucose/glycosylated hemoglobin levels in the observation group were significantly better than in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). The oral health quality of life in the observation group was significantly better than in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The small-group experiential learning model of integrated Chinese and Western medicine can promote the transformation of knowledge-beliefs-behaviors in elderly patients with diabetes, which is conducive to controlling blood sugar levels and improving the quality of oral health.

Folate deficiency and aberrant expression of DNA methyltransferase 1 were associated with cervical cancerization.

DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) plays a significant role in maintaining DNA methylation. Aberrant DNA methylation is a recognized feature of human cancers and folate is directly involved in DNA methylation via one-carbon metabolism. Previous reports also have suggested that folate deficiency was associated with many cancers. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of folate deficiency and aberrant expression of DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) on cervical cancerization. The expression of DNMT1 protein and mRNA and levels of serum folate were detected in 238 women with a diagnosis of normal cervix (NC，n = 53), cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN I, n = 52; CIN II/III, n = 53), and squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix (SCC; n = 80). In addition, the expression of DNMT1 protein and mRNA was measured in cervical cancer cells (Caski and C33A) treated by different concentration of folate. Serum folate levels decreased and expression levels of DNMT1 protein and mRNA increased gradually with progressive severity of the cervix lesions (P<0.001). It was found that folate was able to reduce the viability of Caski or C33A cell (r=0.978, P=0.002; r=0.984, P<0.001) and regulated aberrant expression of DNMT1 protein (r=-0.859, P=0.01; r=-0.914, P<0.001) and mRNA (r=-0.297, P=0.159; r=0.433, P=0.034) in vitro. Our findings indicated that the low-level of serum folate and high-expression of DNMT1 protein or mRNA was significantly associated with cervical carcinogenesis. Folate deficiency and aberrant expression of DNA methyltransferase 1 had additive effect on cervical cancerization. Folate supplement and recovery of aberrant DNA methylation status may offer a new strategy for prevention and therapy of cancers.

[Effect of folate in modulating the expression of DNA methyltransferase 1 and methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 in cervical cancer cell lines].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of folate on the expression of DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) and methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2) in cervical cancer cell lines. METHODS: Experimental study was carried out in vitro. Human cervical cancer cell lines, including C33A cell with HPV negative and Caski cell with HPV16 positive, were treated with different concentration of folate. The expression of DNMT1 and MeCP2 protein (by Western blot) and mRNA (by real-time PCR) were then detected in the two cell lines. RESULTS: It was found that supplement of folate was able to reduce the cell proliferation in C33A cell (r = 0.984, P < 0.001) and Caski cell (r = 0.978, P = 0.002), as well as induced the cell apoptosis (C33A: r = 0.989, P < 0.001; Caski: r = 0.994, P < 0.001). RESULTS: showed that the expression levels of DNMT1 protein (C33A: r = -0.914, P < 0.001; Caski: r = -0.859, P = 0.003) and MeCP2 protein (C33A: r = -0.830, P = 0.005; Caski: r = -0.981, P < 0.001) decreased gradually with the increase of folate concentrations, but the expression of DNMT1 and MeCP2 mRNA was not observed in Caski or C33A cell. When at the same levels of folate, the expression of DNMT1 protein or mRNA was higher in Caski cell than in C33A cell. However, the expression of MeCP2 protein or mRNA was higher in C33A cell than in Caski cell. CONCLUSION: Our finding indicated that adequate folate could effectively inhibit the proliferation of cervical cancer cells and facilitate their apoptosis in vitro, thus would reverse the aberration protein expression of DNMT1 and MeCP2. That there might be a synergistic action between HPV16 infection and parafunction of DNMT1 in cervical cancer, being noticed.

The oxidative damage and disbalance of calcium homeostasis in brain of chicken induced by selenium deficiency.

Dietary selenium (Se) deficiency can influence the function of the brain. Our objective was to investigate the effects of Se deficiency on oxidative damage and calcium (Ca) homeostasis in brain of chicken. In the present study, 1-day-old chickens were fed either a commercial diet (as control group) with 0.15 mg/kg Se or a Se-deficient diet (as L group) with 0.033 mg/kg Se for 75 days. Then, brain injury biomarkers were examined, including histological analysis, ultrastructure assay, and apoptosis assay. We also examined the effect of Se deficiency on the Se-containing antioxidative enzyme glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), the level of glutathione (GSH), and the Ca homeostasis in brain of chicken. The results showed that the levels of Se and GSH and activity of GSH-Px are seriously reduced by 33.8-96 % (P < 0.001), 24.51-27.84 % (P < 0.001), and 20.70-64.24 % (P < 0.01), respectively. In the present study, we also perform histological analysis and ultrastructure assay and find that Se deficiency caused disorganized histological structure, damage to the mitochondria, fusion of nuclear membrane and nucleus shrinkage, higher apoptosis rate (P < 0.001), and increase of Ca homeostasis (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01 or P < 0.001) in the brain of chicken. In conclusion, the results demonstrated that Se deficiency induced oxidative damage and disbalance of Ca homeostasis in the brain of chicken. Similar to mammals, chickens brain is also extremely susceptible to oxidative damage and selenium deficiency.

[Effect of stiletto needle intervention combined with massage on dysfunction and pain of knee-joints in patients with knee osteoarthrosis].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effectiveness of stiletto needle stimulation combined with massage in the treatment of dysfunction and pain of knee joints in knee osteoarthrosis (KOA) patients. METHODS: One hundred KOA outpatients and inpatients were randomly and equally divided into treatment and control groups. Patients of the treatment group were treated by using stiletto needle stimulation of 5-10 tender-points (at the medial collateral ligament, internal condyle of femur, medial condyle of femur, etc.) in combination with massage on the bilateral sides of the patella ligament, digital pressing of Liangqiu (ST 34), Xuehai (SP 10), Neixiyan (EX-LE 4), Weizhong (BL 40), etc. Patients of the control group were treated by using massage therapy alone (the same to those mentioned above). Elasticity of the soft tissue[displacement value under 500 g pressure exerted on the tender-point surface; the banana area, i. e. , the absorbed energy of the soft tissue] was measured by using Soft-tissue Tension Detector. Dysfunction scores of the knee-joint (cure:91 -99 points; marked improvement: 75-90 points; improvement: 60- 74 points; invalid: no improvement) were assessed according to Jiang's method, and the therapeutic effect was evaluated in the light of "Criteria for Diagnosis and Therapeutic Effect Assessment of Illnesses or Clinical Conditions of Chinese Medicine" issued in 1994 in China. RESULTS: Comparison between pre- and post-treatment in the same one group showed that the displacement values and scores of pain, joint-movement and malformation, and total scores were increased significantly and the banana area reduced considerably in these two groups after the treatment (P < 0. 05), and the effects of the treatment group were apparently superior to those of the control group (P < 0. 05). Of the two 50 cases in the control and treatment groups, 10 (20%) and 33 (66%) had marked improvement, 33 (66%) and 14 (28%) were improved, and 7 (14%) and 3 (6%) invalid, with the effective rates being 86% and 94% , respectively. The markedly effective rate of the treatment group was apparently higher than that of the control group (P< 0. 05). No significant differences were found between the two groups in the scores of initiative extension range, walking abi-lity and daily life activities (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Stiletto needle intervention in combination with massage can effectively relieve dysfunction and pain of the knee joint in KOA patients.

Testicular toxicity induced by dietary cadmium in cocks and ameliorative effect by selenium.

Cadmium (Cd) is an ubiquitous environmental pollutant that has been associated with male reproductive toxicity in animal models. However, little is known about the reproductive toxicity of Cd in birds. To investigate the toxicity of Cd on male reproduction in birds and the protective effects of selenium (Se) against subchronic exposure to dietary Cd, 100-day-old cocks received either Se (as 10 mg Na(2)SeO(3) per kg of diet), Cd (as 150 mg CdCl(2) per kg of diet) or Cd + Se in their diets for 60 days. Histological and ultrastructural changes in the testis, the concentrations of Cd and Se, amount of lipid peroxidation (LPO), the activities of the antioxidants superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and apoptosis and serum testosterone levels were determined. Exposure to Cd significantly lowered SOD and GPx activity, Se content in the testicular tissue, and serum testosterone levels. It increased the amount of LPO, the numbers of apoptotic cells and Cd concentration and caused obvious histopathological changes in the testes. Concurrent treatment with Se reduced the Cd-induced histopathological changes in the testis, oxidative stress, endocrine disorder and apoptosis, suggesting that the toxic effects of cadmium on the testes is ameliorated by Se. Se supplementation also modified the distribution of Cd in the testis.